Others still weren't entirely dismissive of the smartwatch, but took issue with Samsung's choice to use a power-hungry 800 MHz Exynos core, a decision that reduced battery life to a day at best.

For that "on the fence" segment, Qualcomm, Inc.'s (QCOM) announcement of the Toq (pronounced "Talk") smartwatch may interest you.

Qualcomm Toq smartwatch [Image Source: AnandTech]

Here's a quick rundown of what is known and announced with Toq:

Price: $300

Release Date: Q4 2013

Processor: 200 MHz Cortex M3

Display:

1.5-1.6 inches

Mirasol (E-INK like display)

Battery:

Large

In a separate band component

Battery Life:

Max: 5 days

Typical: 3 days (moderate to heavy use)

Wireless:

stereo Bluetooth (serial, Alljoyn)

charging (WiPower LE case -- drop the watch on its case to charge)

Other: Water resistant

Like Samsung's Galaxy Gear, Toq acts as a second screen for your smartphone, allowing you to scan texts, emails, control music, without the "herculean task" of taking your smartphone out of your pocket. But unlike Samsung, Qualcomm is looking to make the device cross platform, with iOS support coming (according toEngadget).

Toq's always on, always connected, always visible wearable technology gives you a 'Digital 6th Sense,' telling you what you need to know, when you need to know it, with just a glance at your wrist or a whisper in your ear. Toq is a showcase for the benefits of the Mirasol display, WiPower LE and stereo Bluetooth technologies and highlights the experience that the wearable category can provide.

Don't tell PETA about how many butterflies must have died to make Qualcomm's latest display.

Combined with the low-power processor, Qualcomm is promising a much better battery life than Samsung. While not traditionally a device maker, Qualcomm says it made the device as a proof of concept for the Mirasol technology. Rob Chandhok, president of Qualcomm Internet Services and Qualcomm Innovation Center, told CNET in an interview, "We're not trying to be a consumer electronics company, but we do want to make a statement about what we think features and characteristics of successful wearable computing [are] going to be."

The Qualcomm smartwatch isn't shipping until Q4, and will only ship in limited quantities this year -- so Samsung (and Apple, Inc. (AAPL)?) may have the lead in bringing product to the market. But the Qualcomm watch certainly brings some unique features to the table.

Won't be the screen that eats that battery. It's the 'always on' bluetooth that does it.

Whenever your paired phone comes near it will be connected and eating battery even if you aren't looking at it. Bluetooth is a well known among smartphone users as a battery eater. I see the small batteries on these watches getting eaten even faster whenever your phone is near and paired.